Mandevilla plant named ‘Ginger’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Ginger’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; strong stems; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and intense pink-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Ginger’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Mandevilla Plant Named ‘Audrey’.

Applicant: Graham Noel Brown.

Filed: U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/291,395.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Ginger’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in New South Wales, Australia. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact shrub-type Mandevilla cultivars with strong stems and numerous attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Pennant Hills, New South Wales, Australia in December, 2003, of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number X02.5, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunmandecrim’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia in November, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in Macquarie Fields, New South Wales, Australia, since December, 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Ginger’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Ginger’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Strong stems.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Intense pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have darker pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Sunmandecrim’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than plants of         ‘Sunmandecrim’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Sunmandecrim’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’ have deep red-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevilla hybrida ‘Audrey’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 12/291,395. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Audrey’ in flower color as plants of ‘Audrey’ have deep red-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Mandevilla have a tighter (less open) plant form than plants of ‘Audrey’.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla splendens ‘Red Riding Hood’, not patented. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ from plants of ‘Red Riding Hood’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than plants of         ‘Red Riding Hood’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Red Riding Hood’ differ in         flower color as plants of ‘Red Riding Hood’ have darker         pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Ginger’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and flower buds of ‘Ginger’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 13° C. to 24° C. Plants were pinched one time and had been growing for 14 weeks when the description and photographs were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Ginger’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number X02.5, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunmandecrim’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About one month.         -   Root description.—Fleshy, thick; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright and mounding.         -   Growth habit.—Vigorous.         -   Plant height.—About 29.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 39.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching with about five to six primary lateral branches             per plant. Length: About 28 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm.             Internode length: About 2.3 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A;             venation, close to 146A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 145C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to             146D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in loose             and open racemes. Flowers face upright or outwardly. Freely             flowering habit, about 15 open flowers and flower buds per             lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             flower from year-round in the greenhouse and from spring to             late autumn in California; flowering continuous during this             period. Plants initiate flower development about six weeks             after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About three to four days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faint; floral-like, pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 11 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused,             five-parted; petals imbricate; flowers roughly star-shaped.             Diameter: About 6 cm. Depth (length): About 6.4 cm. Throat             diameter: About 1.5 cm. Tube length: About 6.4 cm. Tube             diameter, mid-section: About 1.6 cm. Tube diameter, base:             About 3 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 63B to 63C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five             petals, fused into flared trumpet; petals imbricate. Petal             lobe length: About 3.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.8 cm.             Petal shape: Roughly elliptical. Petal apex: Acute. Petal             margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: Petal lobe, when opening,             upper surface: Close to 58B. Petal lobe, when opening, lower             surface: Close to 59D. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 58B to 58C; color does not fade with             development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 63B to 63C; color does not fade with development. Tube:             Towards the apex, close to 62B; mid-section, close to 145C             to 145D; towards the base, close to 182A. Throat: Close to             21B.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Five per flower fused in a             single whorl. Length: About 6 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 145D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.             Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to             11B. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther size: About 2 mm by             9 mm. Anther color: Close to 18A. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 158D. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.4 cm. Stigma shape:             Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Style length: About             1.6 cm. Style color: Close to 145C. Ovary color: Close to             145A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Mandevilla. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 4° C. to about 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Ginger’ as illustrated and described. 